The Serpent's Wager

One of the few love poems I have written. I'm trying to explore the parallels between religious worship and the way some couples structure their relationships.

I paint a portrait of you

upon the palm of my hand

so that when I clench my fist,

I have some truth to hold.

I sketch your image

upon the back of my eyelids

so that when I sleep,

my dreams are always beautiful. 

I place your picture

beneath the mantle

so that I can have some warmth

 

when my room is cold.

 

In this way I build temples

for us to worship the vagaries of fate;

and while it is still simple,

I can feel a bond grow

that vaguely resembles faith;

because while I'm not religious,

I am spiritual;

 

I do believe in symbols;

 

and I think we should take

whatever stability that we can make.

 

While it may be easier to destroy;

really, who wants what is easy?

so let's labor to create

a pedestal to place this feverish joy.

 

We never sought a savior,

though maybe we did;

you were always so eager to trust my voice;

likewise I was always so inclined to rely upon your smile.

 

One could call it a balance of a perfect nature;

like woman and man before the fall.

 

But such dreams beg the question,

is it worth the serpents wager?

 

Tell me, Eve;

 

does the nectar of forbidden fruit

give taste to a hidden truth?

 

Or is it just a tired justification

of the endless excuse?

 

Whichever version,

save me a bite

 

and we'll call it even for the rib.

 

Something as insane as love requires

a sacrament no less than the exchange of blood and fire;

 

but I am wary of using such binding words.

 

so, tell me truly, Eve;

 

is this a holy union?

 

are we bound by both spirit and flesh?

 

I think you hold the answer,

a secret dearly kept;

 

And while, like me,

I know you could never speak it;

 

At night, as you are sleeping,

 

(dreaming of dancing with ghosts)

 

I swear I can hear it on your breath.